They are now employing female members of the gang to attract the commuters and drug them by offering eatables before decamping with their belongings.

The information was revealed to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) by Jayanti Nat and Sudha Dinkar, who were recently caught at Kanpur Central Railway Station.

RPF incharge at Kanpur Central, Satyendra Yadav said in spite of tight security in both trains and platforms, the drug-and-rob incidents are quite rampant. “The arrested women disclosed that at least five such gangs are actively involved in these crimes and resided in the illegal settlements around the railway station,” he added.

Sources said there have been over 50 such cases in the last fortnight.

Yadav said the gang targeted the lower and lower-middle class travelers in general and sleeper coaches, mostly daily-wage labourers and factory workers, who return home with the day’s income.

On the modus operandi, Yadav said the female gang members often act “friendly” with the “targeted” passengers and offer them drugged eatables. “As soon as the passenger falls unconscious, they get off the train with the robbed luggage including cash and valuables,” he added. Since most of the incidents took place between Aligarh and Kanpur, security personnel have been deployed there to escort the identified trains.

“Several posters and warnings have been pasted on platforms and trains. A regular check-up on suspected persons has also been done,” he added.

On the recent spate of looting incidents, he said the police arrested gang leader Kalpana, along with two, from the Chauri Chaura Express while they were attempting to snatch somebody’s gold chain on Sunday.